Planning a family trip to Dublin? This 3-day itinerary is designed to keep both kids and adults entertained, combining interactive museums, historic landmarks, scenic parks, and fun attractions. From hop-on hop-off bus tours to Dublin Zoo and seaside adventures, you’ll experience the best of the city at a relaxed, family-friendly pace.
Day 1 - Explore Dublin’s city-centre + easy sightseeing
Morning – Start with a hop-on hop-off bus tour
A Hop-on Hop-off bus tour is a great way to begin — it helps you and the kids get oriented with the city, see several landmarks without too much walking, and pick and choose what you want to explore more.
For example, the 24‑Hour Dublin Hop‑On Hop‑Off Open‑Top Bus Tour gives you flexibility for an entire day.
If you like, there are also combo tickets like the Dublin Hop‑on Hop‑off Bus Tour + Guinness Storehouse Ticket (Guinness Storehouse has loads to entertain kids, though it also has lots of adult-oriented content).
Late Morning / Lunch – Wander around central Dublin & Grafton Street
After the bus ride, stroll around central Dublin, maybe head to the area near St. Stephen's Green, where you'll find a fantastic playground as well as an ornamental lake, sculptures, a garden for visually impaired visitors, and much more. Close to St. Stephen's Green is Dublin's premier shopping street; Grafton Street, which is always full of life and entertainment. Kids (and adults) often enjoy the street performers, and it’s a relaxed place to soak up the city vibe.
Afternoon – Visit a family-friendly museum from DoDublin
We recommend The Little Museum of Dublin which is included for free with every DoDublin Hop-on Hop-off tour ticket! It’s small enough not to exhaust little legs and has interesting exhibits about Dublin’s history.
Evening – Early dinner & relaxed stroll or playground
Finish the day with dinner and If energy allows and weather’s good: take a gentle stroll by the River Liffey waterfront / boardwalk for fresh air and nice views.
Day 2 — Museums, heritage & a bit of fun history + culture
Morning – Visit the Dublinia Museum, (jump off at the Christ Church Cathedral stop on the Hop-on hop-off tour))
Dublinia is a really family-friendly heritage and cultural centre, focusing on Viking- and medieval-era Dublin - fun and educational for children and adults alike.
Late Morning – Head to the EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum
This museum is interactive and informative — giving insight into Irish emigration history in a way that tends to engage children and grown-ups.
Lunch + short rest
Afternoon – Enjoy relaxed fun at Dublin Zoo in the Phoenix Park.
Dublin Zoo is one of the top family attractions in Dublin for a full or half-day outing, the Phoenix Park itself is also a lovely location to spend a couple of hours wandering through!
Evening – Early dinner, and possibly a relaxed park stroll / picnic
The Zoo + Phoenix Park offer great opportunities for kids to run around a bit before bed!
Day 3 — Mix of history, open air and flexible fun
Morning – Visit a historic building: St. Patrick's Cathedral or similar historic site
Exploring a cathedral or a historic landmark can be a calm but meaningful experience — gives older kids a bit of culture/history.
Late Morning / Lunch – City walk + ice cream / snacks
Afternoon – Sea-side excursion option (weather dependent): Head out to a coastal village or harbour
For example, a quick trip out of the city to somewhere like Howth for a walking tour could be a lovely way to end the day with sea air, maybe an ice cream treat, some fresh views, and a relaxed pace. (Many families in Dublin enjoy short sea-side or harbour trips to mix things up instead of full-on sightseeing. )
Or — if the weather is poor / kids are tired: choose another short indoor activity or park visit
Dublin has several parks and free open-spaces, like Merrion Square, Iveagh Gardens or Blessington Street Basin which can be a gentle way to round off the trip without over-doing it.
Evening — Relaxed dinner, family takeaway or early evening stroll & unwind
For families with older kids you can have a final night out on board the DoDublin Ghostbus Tour this is a great option for families with teenagers over 15 who enjoy spooky stories and a bit of theatrical fun. The tour blends humour, history, and scary tales as it explores Dublin’s darker side, all led by entertaining guides who bring the city’s legends to life. It’s engaging without being too intense, making it a memorable and exciting evening activity for older kids and adults alike
If you happen to be in town around Halloween there's also the Ghostbus Kids Tour which is a kids version of the Ghostbus tour ideal for children aged 7-14 (only operating currently during the Halloween holidays)
